Is there an entrance fee at El Malpais National Monument?

NPS lists El Malpais as a fee-free park, so there is no entrance fee.

What is the best time to visit El Malpais?

In 2025 the busiest month was May with 19,323 recreation visits, and the quietest was January with 7,530. NPS says summer is hot with monsoon storms and winter is cool with possible snow.

What are the hours at El Malpais?

NPS lists the monument as open around the clock every day, with exceptions for some parking areas and the visitor center. The visitor center keeps daily hours of 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, though winter hours may vary.

Are dogs allowed at El Malpais?

Where pets are allowed, they must be crated, caged or on a leash no longer than six feet. Each park can close more areas to pets.

All parks › El Malpais National Monument

El Malpais National Monument: fees, hours, camping and when to visit

Updated October 29, 2026. Based on National Park Service data. Published by Humblebee.

Entrance fee: None^[1]
Busiest month (2025): May^[2]
Recreation visits, 2025: 151,998^[3]
Visitor centers: 1^[4]

El Malpais National Monument is a National Park System unit in New Mexico^[5]. NPS lists it as a fee-free park with no entrance fee^[1].

Entrance fees and passes

The National Park Service lists no entrance fee for El Malpais National Monument^[1]. Some tours, campgrounds or permits inside a park can still have their own fees.

When to visit and hours

NPS lists the monument as open around the clock every day, with a few exceptions^[6]. Two spots, Sandstone Bluffs Overlook and a Zuni-Acoma Trail lot, are limited to daylight hours, sunrise to sunset^[6]. The visitor center keeps daily hours of 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, though winter hours may vary^[6]. NPS says it closes on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day and New Year's Day^[6]. In 2025 the busiest month was May with 19,323 recreation visits, and the quietest was January with 7,530^[2]. NPS describes summer as sunny and hot with monsoon storms, and winter as cool and sunny with possible snow storms^[7].

Recreation visits counted by the National Park Service in each month of 2025. The busiest month, May, is highlighted^[2].

Show visits by month

Month, 2025	Recreation visits
January	7,530
February	9,541
March	14,536
April	15,731
May	19,323
June	14,585
July	15,005
August	14,397
September	13,153
October	10,045
November	9,237
December	8,915

Show visits by year

Year	Recreation visits
2021^[3]	181,729
2022^[3]	162,755
2023^[3]	167,107
2024^[3]	163,679
2025^[3]	151,998

Pets and dogs

Under the national NPS pet rule, pets must be crated, caged or on a leash no longer than six feet wherever they are allowed^[8]. Pets are not allowed in public buildings, with service animals excepted^[8]. Each park can close more areas to pets, so check the official park page^[8].

Before you go

NPS lists no entrance fee here, but fees and hours can change^[1].
Confirm hours and conditions on the official park page before you go^[6].
NPS notes that daily temperatures swing roughly 30 degrees F between night and afternoon, so pack layers^[7].
NPS lists one visitor center, the El Malpais Visitor Center^[4].

Questions people ask

Is there an entrance fee at El Malpais National Monument?: NPS lists El Malpais as a fee-free park, so there is no entrance fee^[1].
What is the best time to visit El Malpais?: In 2025 the busiest month was May with 19,323 recreation visits, and the quietest was January with 7,530^[2]. NPS says summer is hot with monsoon storms and winter is cool with possible snow^[7].
What are the hours at El Malpais?: NPS lists the monument as open around the clock every day, with exceptions for some parking areas and the visitor center^[6]. The visitor center keeps daily hours of 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, though winter hours may vary^[6].
Are dogs allowed at El Malpais?: Where pets are allowed, they must be crated, caged or on a leash no longer than six feet^[8]. Each park can close more areas to pets^[8].

Facts and sources

NPS lists El Malpais National Monument as a fee-free park: there is no entrance fee. National Park Service
NPS recreation visits by month, 2025 (chart on this page). NPS Visitor Use Statistics
NPS recreation visits per year: 2021: 181,729, 2022: 162,755, 2023: 167,107, 2024: 163,679, 2025: 151,998. NPS Visitor Use Statistics
Visitor centers listed by NPS: 1 (El Malpais Visitor Center). National Park Service
El Malpais National Monument is a unit of the U.S. National Park System (designation: National Monument) in New Mexico. National Park Service
Operating hours, El Malpais National Monument: El Malpais National Monument is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, with the following exceptions: - Sandstone Bluffs Overlook and the West Zuni-Acoma Trail parking lot are open from sunrise to sunset. - El... National Park Service
NPS weather and seasons overview for El Malpais National Monument. National Park Service
National Park Service rule 36 CFR 2.15: where pets are allowed they must be crated, caged or on a leash no longer than six feet at all times, and pets are not allowed in public buildings, on public transportation or on designated swimming beaches (service... eCFR, 36 CFR 2.15

Fees and hours are what NPS lists in its data at the snapshot date. They change: tell readers to confirm on the official park page before a trip. Visits are NPS recreation visits (counted entries, not unique people). Use them only for this park's own months and years, never to rank parks. Campground list and site counts come from NPS and Recreation.gov records. Count fields can differ slightly between the two. The pet rule is the national baseline (36 CFR 2.15). The park may close more areas to pets. Do not claim specific trails allow dogs unless a fact says so.